April 18, 2024

Otterbein and Ohio Northern Split Thursday Doubleheader in Ada

ADA, Ohio – There were a pair of traded W-L results in a league doubleheader between Otterbein and Ohio Northern on Thursday afternoon, where the Cardinals escaped the opener (9-8) before the host Polar Bears got even with a 4-1 victory in the rematch at Wander Field.

An important stretch ahead now leaves the Cardinals at 23-8 overall and 9-3 within the Ohio Athletic Conference, still firmly in second place among the standings with a big weekend set up next.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS:

  • The Cardinals, entering the day ranked third nationally as a scoring offense at over 10 runs per game, continued demonstrating why by posting five in the second frame against Polar Bear ace Jack Hutchins.

  • Brayden Quincel launched a solo homer and Otterbein then crossed another few after ONU committed a throwing error on a sac bunt from Gavin Wolf. Logan Ullom and Noah Sprowls moved the baseball and, just like that, Luke Walter had a 5-0 lead to work with on the mound.

  • But a pesky Ohio Northern team slowly chipped away and tied the game (5-5) in the fifth, featuring a pair of doubles and miscue defensively by the Cards.

  • Jamie Perebzak pushed his visiting club back in front with a 2-RBI single in the sixth, thanks to Ullom and leadoff man Brayden Carter igniting a two-out rally. The Cards opened an 8-5 lead on a double from Quincel, where Noah Sprowls scored but the lightning fast Perebzak was thrown out at home on a crisp 8-6-2 rally.

  • ONU answered once again in the bottom of the sixth with a trio itself, knotting the contest back at 8-8. That score remained intact into the ninth, despite the Cards having two on in the eighth.

  • Wolf came up with the eventual difference-making hit in the ninth inning for Otterbein. Gavin Thompson was a hit by a pitch to begin and then pinch ran for by actual speedster Caleb Bond, who moved up to second on a wild pitch. Wolf promptly brought him around with a single to center.

  • The Cards nearly almost manufactured a tenth run (for their season average) shortly thereafter on Ullom's third hit, but he was thrown out at second trying to advance.

  • Sam Sethna seized the moment and pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, snagging his third victory of the season after beginning the eighth. Quincel and Ullom were both 3 for 5 in the game.

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS:

  • There was a lot less scoring in the rematch despite 19 combined hits, three home runs and five different innings featuring a solo run. Grady Kehr and Noah Truax both delivered quality starts on the bump to keep giving chances to their offenses.

  • ONU plated an unearned run to begin but Perebzak launched a solo shot to left field in the third.

  • Andrew Stechschulte catapulted the first of his two round-trippers in the fourth, the other in the eighth, as Truax limited the Cardinals' potent lineup.

  • Otterbein had two runners on base in the first, fifth and ninths innings but to no further avail. Carter represented the potential tying run (at the dish) in the final opportunity before a lineout was snagged.

  • Carter, Quincel, Perebzak and Max McCann all had multi-hit efforts while Kehr allowed just one earned run over his seven full. Truax had 10 strikeouts over his eight frames of work before turning it over to reliever Blake Peterson, who notched his second save.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Otterbein now shifts focus up to No. 3-ranked Baldwin Wallace on Saturday in Berea, where a critical doubleheader looms. BW, off consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division III World Series, currently sits atop the conference at 11-1 and 26-4 altogether.